Declaration of Independence, the solemn declaration of the Congress of the United States of America, on the 4th of July 1776, by which they formally renounced their subjection to the government of Great Britain. This declaration has not only given Americans the freedom from the government controlling their every move, but also on how we worship God. Sadly, we are losing our freedoms every day, from dictating what we are to eat to how we are raise our children, and if the corrupt government keeps gets their way we will be losing our freedom to worship God as the Bible tells us. Once declared one nation under God, we are now one nation under Satan, and as long as Christians keep silent or live the same corrupted lives as those in the world it is going to get worse. There is only one true source of independence, and that is Jesus Christ. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” - John 8:32.

Independence, A state in which a person does not rely on others for subsistence; ability to support one's self. I have always been a very independent woman, worked hard to get the things I wanted, took pride in my work, and if I got knocked down I got back up and kept on going. You could imagine my reaction when I began losing everything I had and could not get back up no matter what I tried to do. That was when I went to the only option left, God, as much as God would love to help us, it is only when we come to Him that He does.

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever: And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever. Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.” - Psalm 136:1-4,16-18,23-26.

“Who remembered us in our low estate:” Some people are blessed to have been brought up in a Christ centered home, most people are brought up in a religious or no God at all home. Religion or ignorance to God does not save us, I grew up half my life in a religious home, without fully understanding what Christ did for me. I knew I was a sinner and I was going to hell, it was not until I was at my lowest that Christ spoke to me and I heard Him. On July 10, 2004 I knew it was time to make some changes in my life and Christ in it would be one of them. Two years later (found a new church) I was baptized to profess my faith in Christ and my life has never been the same. God does not recognize us when we are too proud to admit we need Him, but He does when we humble ourselves before Him.

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” - James 4:8-10.

Independence, A state of mind in which a person acts without bias or influence from others; exemption from undue influence; self-direction. No matter what country we belong to we do have the independence to choose to worship God as the Bible says. Governments can burn, hide, or try to keep people from God’s Word, but they cannot keep them from believing in Jesus Christ. Christ will protect and strengthen us when we put our souls in His hands

“In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD. Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.” - Psalm 138:3-8.

It is not easy to be a true Christian today, we are going to get persecuted, falsely accused, mocked, and threatened for our faith in Christ, but Christ is right there with us and will help us endure, He is our true independence. “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” - Mark 13:13.

Independence, A state of being not dependent; complete exemption from control, or the power of others; as the independence of the Supreme Being. It may not seem like it to the world, but independence only comes through our relationship with the only Supreme Being, God. As someone who is independent I understand how hard it is to learn to depend on others, you could imagine my how hard it for me to be dependent upon God. To this day I will never understand why He uses me to do so many things for Him when I still try to do everything on my own, but who am I to question His reasons. You know, there are many things that we will never understand about God, but that is okay, the only thing we need to understand is that He is always in control.

“Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.” - Psalm 139:3-11.

“if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.” There is not one person in hell that is not reminded daily that God is real and they could have been saved if they just got over themselves and realize they needed Him. The truth is, I always thought that God wanted me to do everything on my own, but follow His rules, I never understood that He wanted to be in every part of my life. Do you understand that God made you, He created you, and designed you just for Him?

“For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” - Psalm 139:13-18.

“yet being unperfect;” God loves us just the way we are because He made us just the way we are. No, He did not make us to live in sin, our sin nature does that if we become dependent on the lusts of our flesh. No one is perfect, except Christ, but those who trust Christ are perfect through Him. Of course, God gives you the choice to choose Him, but that does not mean you lose your independence if you do, it is giving you true independence. Independence from religion that sends people to hell, independence from sin that made you captive, and independence from the true enemy, Satan. “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” - Hebrews 10:12-14.

Jesus Christ Magnified: “O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.” - Psalm 140:7. There will be one final battle when Christ returns, He has covered those who are saved with His blood. “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” - Romans 5:9.

Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for giving us independence, the right to choose to worship You according to Your Word. With the world quickly destroying everything that Christ has set us free from we need to be more dependent upon You than ever. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Give me Your power, strength, and discernment to endure the trials I face, let me learn to be completely dependent upon You, giving you control of everything in my life, and give me the independence to walk away from anything that will be a snare in my relationship with You. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Sometimes phrases just pop up at you wherever you go, it is as if God places these big marquee signs in front of you. The past couple of weeks, God has been throwing this at me, “trust in the LORD”, you can imagine my surprise when In shows up yet again in today’s reading. God does not want us looking at our bank accounts, our possessions, our jobs, or lack there of, our friends, or any of our circumstances, He wants us looking at Him. He is our help and shield and all who put their trust in Him will be blessed.

“O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.” - Psalm 115:9-13.

“The LORD hath been mindful of us:” As much as I get frustrated about what seems like never ending trials given to me by God, I do not take them to heart because I know God has a bigger plan for me. There is not a day that goes by that God is not mindful of me, always putting me and my needs first, as He does with all who trust Him. As I sit here writing this message with no ac in 95° weather, I am reminded that at least we have windows that open and a couple of fans. So no matter what we go through God always provides, and we need to be mindful of that.

“He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion. He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant. He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen. The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” - Psalm 111:4-10.

“The works of his hands are verity and judgment;” Verity, truth, Moral truth; agreement of the words with thoughts. God’s thoughts of us are wonderful, He only thinks the best for us, and while we do have to go through some trials, blessings come through them. Judgment, the spirit of wisdom and prudence, enabling a person to discern right and wrong, good and evil. With the trials come righteous judgment, God gives us wisdom and discernment as we learn to trust Him. Psalm 112 reminds us that trusting God is the only option.

“A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies. He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour. The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.” - Psalm 112:5-10.

“his heart is fixed,” Fixed, Settled; established; firm; fast; stable. A fixed heart on God does not mean that it does not get angry, frustrated, or ask God questions when being afflicted, it does mean that it knows God is its Lord. A fixed heart trusts Him and calls out to Him, even in distress, and He hears them.

“I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.” - Psalm 116:1-6.

“The LORD preserveth the simple:” Who are the simple? Those who trust in Him, those who believe the simplicity of the Gospel, the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son, and are only trusting Him to save them. God preserves those who only have a fixed heart on His Son. This is not only for the Jew, it is for every person who believes.

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever. Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever. I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.” - Psalm 118:1-6,17,18,22.

“The stone which the builders refused” This is talking about none other than Jesus Christ, when we receive Him as our Saviour we become grounded, fixed, established, settled with God, we are no longer seen as strangers before God, but His own. One day all will realize that Jesus is not only the Son of God, they will realize He is God, and the very person God had been talking about who would save them the second man was cursed by sin.

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” - Ephesians 2:19-22.

Jesus Christ Magnified: “The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.” - Psalm 110:20. Jesus is the rod of God’s strength, He will return one day to rule in Jerusalem while He prepares His people for His Kingdom. “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” - Revelation 3:12.

Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for loving us so much that You gave us Your only begotten Son, so that we can live with You forever. Since You made us in Your image, naturally we are going to have the same emotions as You do, You love, we love, You hurt, we hurt, Your heart gets broken as ours does too. Lord, Fix our heart on You so that no matter what we are going through we are trusting You. Lead us and guide us, mend and heal all broken hearts, give us the strength to endure, and remind us to seek Your guidance in all that we go through because You want to be in every part of our lives. In Jesus' name, Amen.

I'm Following JesusNovember 7th 1970 (Age 48)FemaleCentral FloridaI love the Lord and do try to live my life according to His commands.

I am a Website and Graphic Designer.

I am also Cyber missionary and minister to people the Gospel of Christ.

I attend an Independent Baptist church and am a Sunday school teacher and choir member there. I believe in the Words of the King James Bible as the true written Word of God and strive to follow His doctrine.